Shiing-Shen Chern

Shiing-Shen Chern (1911- 2004) was a pioneering mathematician, widely regarded as the father of modern differential geometry. His work laid the foundation for major developments in global differential geometry, characteristic classes, and their applications in both mathematics and physics. Born in China, Chern held positions at prestigious institutions including the University of Chicago, Princeton, and UC Berkeley. He was the founding director of the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute in Berkeley and a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.